Finger-style and slap-pop in the same song

[taka_jihen]

Hello everyone,

I had a question, since I can't read the "slap bass welcome thread", Google Chrome says that page contains dangerous software and stuff. Anyways...

So this is my problem: am playing a song that has to be played with fingerstyle but has two or three lines with slap-pop. Everything's cool with the finger part but when I try the slap-pop part, it sounds way too loud. Am playing without effects at the minute. I already tried to slap-pop softly, especially the pop, but if played too soft, it doesn't snap the frets.

Is compression the only solution for this? Gear is a Fender HWOne, D'addario Rounds, Peavey MAX 110 20w practice amp (is pretty good actually). EQ is bass and treble boosted. Tuners are all full on bass. My action is not the lowest, it's rather mid, not too high.

Thanks in advance, I searched and know that someone asked this already, but never received a final answer.

Daniel

[electracoyote]

Boosting the treble might contribute to this problem.

You may need compression.

Your pickup height may favor the treble strings.

You may need to pluck harder when playing with fingers.

[taka_jihen]

Thanks for the advice.

I will try again and post the results... tomorrow.

[PJSShearer]

The same problem I had and still have - my slap/pop is much louder than my finger style. The trick a friend of mine used to use is for songs where you have to switch between slap/pop and finger style is to play your finger style much harder than normal so the two techniques match in volume - just for that song of course. Another, as suggested above, is to use a compressor to even out the peaks in volume, which I found to be the way to go.

Also, I have a series/parallel switch for my DiMarzio P pup and switching to parallel drops the output level "just enough".

[JimmyM]

the compressor is used by some to even out their volumes, but what happens if you don't happen to have a compressor? maybe you're sitting in and the bassist's rig doesn't have one. then what do you do?

that's why i worked very hard at making my slap volume the same as my fingerstyle and pick volume. i like to slap pretty hard because it sounds better to me, but you don't need to kill the strings. you should do your best to make them the same volume without needing a compressor. a compressor can only do so much, anyway. it'll squash your tone if you go too far with it, and most people who use it to even out their volumes in this situation do set it on squash.

[MtnGoat]

Check the action on your bass. If it is high, you'll need to slap/pop harder/louder to get the string to hit the frets. But, if it is too low, you won't be able to play fingerstyle with a heavy touch without fret noise.

Try adjusting (probably lowering) your action so you can slap/pop with a lighter touch. There's probably an optimal setting that will work well with your fingerstyle playing and allow you to better control the slap volume more.

[nsmar4211]

On my bass when I do a slap song the only setting I change is to roll completely to the front pickup. I have to play fingerstyle in part of my main slap song (Like the Way I Do), and I actually have to back off the fingerstyle because it ends up being too loud using the neck pickup!

However, I have an active 5 string with soapbar pickups. I've been told my action is actually high, to me it's normal . Haven't tried it on any other bass....

Try a different EQ, Definetly try a compressor..... and maybe lighten up on the slap, it doesn't take as much energy as I originally thought to get the thump and pop..... my sound is way better when i take it easy

[gregmerrill]

Remember that out in the crowd your loud pops wont stick out as bad as you are hearing it because they will be hearing the other instruments blended. But I understand your fustration. Try to limit those pops on soft sections of a tune. If everyone is playing you can get away with it more. Make sure you have a scooped sound and watch your pup selection. Try favoring the mid more than the bridge or both on full. If you have a nice scooped slap sound the way Marcus does it wont be so annoying and harsh to everyones ears. I hate when guys slap with the back pup and you hear that nasty nasal slap sound. Or they might have their mids jacked up so you hear to much bite. The on-going battle will be liking your finger sound but with same setting not liking your slap sound and viseversa. I will favor more bite with my fingers so I will put a little gain on the back pick up. When I go to slap I will center the pups or give the mid pick up a boost. But if your switching back and forth quickly and alot you probably will get sick of that. I really think that is why it is so important to have very hard fingers by playing all the time so your fingers will have a hard attack. That way you can use more of a scooped sound without it getting lost in the mix. Everyone is hearing your initial attack followed by a nice fat tone. The same way it is with a pick. I alway hate my sound if I have not been playing much. I can only blame myself because I have mushy soft fingers and then I have to jack up my mids and highs to cut thru the mix. I hear many guys say they use a compressor for your problem. Another good arguement that someone else already mentioned is just get it out of your hands. Work on playing harder with your fingers and lighter on the slap and try to find a happy medium.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by MtnGoat

Check the action on your bass. If it is high, you'll need to slap/pop harder/louder to get the string to hit the frets. But, if it is too low, you won't be able to play fingerstyle with a heavy touch without fret noise.

Try adjusting (probably lowering) your action so you can slap/pop with a lighter touch. There's probably an optimal setting that will work well with your fingerstyle playing and allow you to better control the slap volume more.

+1

A bass that will tolerate a nice low action set-up will growl and zing when slapped and popped much easier and at lower volumes.

[bassplayer75]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

the compressor is used by some to even out their volumes, but what happens if you don't happen to have a compressor? maybe you're sitting in and the bassist's rig doesn't have one. then what do you do?

that's why i worked very hard at making my slap volume the same as my fingerstyle and pick volume. i like to slap pretty hard because it sounds better to me, but you don't need to kill the strings. you should do your best to make them the same volume without needing a compressor. a compressor can only do so much, anyway. it'll squash your tone if you go too far with it, and most people who use it to even out their volumes in this situation do set it on squash.

+1

[otis_thick]

look into "bass" compressors that allow you to compress only the highs or one that has multiple bands...as others have posted earlier...this is a good spot to start working on attack technique when switching from finger style to slap WITHOUT the use of outboard gear...Now I am working on trying to play live with no effects...and using just tone and attack style to fill out the sound of a 3 pc...instead of an octive pedal.. I am playing the octives with thumb-forefinger and palm muting...It does not work for everything but it is an excercise for me. This band plays covers originals and what we call "Wing Walking" We have audience members call out notes and we will come up with something on the spot...If it sucks... we tell the crowd "You don't like It...Well you wrote it!" so far its gone well for us! Sorry for rambling...its raining hard here too but the breeze feels great!

[chump stain]

So far all the advice has been true, I think you need all.
1. Low action
2. Heavier finger attack
3. Slapping lighter
4. In a band situation, the mix will be different then practicing alone. You may need that loud slap and pop if you want anyone to hear it.
5. Practice
6. If still having trouble; compressor

[michaelgilleran]

Heavier finger attack for sure. Ive never had this problem. Dont be afraid to really pull the strings, it sounds better anyways